Mrs. Nikki Bratcher-Bowman is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and Chief Operating Officer for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Mrs. Bratcher-Bowman served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response from January through June 2021. During that time, she led ASPR as it continued to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding the use of monoclonal antibody therapeutics; deploying responders from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to serve in hard-hit areas of the country; and continuing to develop, procure, and deploy the medical countermeasures needed to respond to the pandemic.
Mrs. Bratcher-Bowman led the transformation and modernization of ASPR operations and services. She led communications strategy, budget, acquisitions and congressional oversight. She has served as the Executive Officer of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) within HHS. She was responsible for managing and leading IEA’s budget and financial resources, human resources, information technology, facilities management, travel programs, contracts and acquisitions, records management, emergency preparedness and safety, freedom of information act oversight, ethics, and information resources across a geographically dispersed organization. With broad experience in the federal sector, her work has spanned operations, human capital, performance optimization, organizational efficiency and effectiveness, and policy.
Mrs. Bratcher-Bowman has worked within HHS for more than 32 years and has held other positions, including Chief Operating Officer, Senior Advisor, Senior Dispute Resolution Specialist, Labor Relations, Employee Relations Officer, Policy Advisor and Budget Analyst. She is a seasoned collaborative relationship-builder, effective manager, and multi-audience communicator, with experience working in complex organizations and with federal, state, local and tribal officials and public policy groups.
Mrs. Bratcher-Bowman has received numerous awards and recognition for her leadership and service, including the HHS Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Management - one of the highest honors given at HHS. Mrs. Bratcher-Bowman is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and Liberty University.
